Vincent van Gogh: Beyond the Brush

Early Life

Vincent van Gogh was born on March 30th, 1853, in the small village of Zundert, Netherlands. The eldest of six children, he grew up as the son of a Protestant minister. Although van Gogh would later become one of the most renowned artists in history, as a child, he showed little sign of the artistic talent that would define his legacy.

Van Gogh’s first career was not in painting, but in art dealing. At the age of 16, he began working for an art dealership in The Hague. Over the following years, he was stationed at the company's branches in London and Paris, where he was introduced to various artistic styles and movements. Unfortunately, Van Gogh was seen as awkward by his colleagues and lacked the social skills to interact with customers. In January of 1876, he was dismissed from his job. 

Vincent went on to explore various careers, including teaching in England and working in a bookshop in the Netherlands, but these positions were short-lived. These repeated disappointments and his struggles with social interactions left him deeply unhappy. His younger brother, Theo, came to the rescue during this challenging period.

​​Theo sent him some manuals, developed by some of the era's leading artists, on how to teach yourself how to draw. This solitary activity became the absolute focus of Vincent's life.

Steven Naifeh, Pulitzer Prize-winning co-author of Van Gogh: The Life

Van Gogh’s Art

Following a string of failed romances, van Gogh found solace in painting. Time outdoors, coupled with the paintbrush in his hand, provided a sanctuary for his troubled mind. During this time, Vincent took painting lessons from his cousin, the celebrated artist Anton Mauve.

One of van Gogh’s earliest works, The Potato Eaters, failed to sell due to its dark and unappealing composition. Van Gogh’s brother, Theo, showed him paintings by Claude Monet and advised him to brighten up his own work if he wanted to become popular—sage advice, as it turned out. 

In 1886, van Gogh moved to Paris, where he produced over 200 paintings and mingled with prominent artists of the time, including Paul Gauguin. This period was marked by significant experimentation in his art, characterised by bold colour contrasts and dynamic brushstrokes. Van Gogh shifted his focus from depicting rural labourers to capturing the lively cafés, bustling boulevards, and vibrant still lifes of Paris.

In 1888, van Gogh left Paris for the quieter, rural town of Arles in the south of France, hoping that the vibrant light and colours of the region would inspire his work. He also dreamed of establishing an artistic community where like-minded painters could live and work together. This period marked one of the most prolific phases of van Gogh’s career, creating masterpieces such as The Night Café, Sunflowers, and The Yellow House.

While in Arles, van Gogh shared a residence with fellow artist Gauguin, though their relationship was tumultuous. Gauguin preferred to use his imagination when painting, whereas Vincent liked to paint what he could see. This led to frequent heated arguments about style and creativity, which caused van Gogh extreme mental distress. 

Struggles with Mental Health

After a particularly fraught argument on December 23rd 1888, van Gogh reportedly threatened Gaugin with a razor. After Gaugin fled the home they shared, van Gogh, in the midst of a breakdown, cut off his left ear with a razor. He wrapped the severed ear in newspaper and presented it to a sex worker he knew. After spending a few days in hospital, van Gogh returned home and started painting immediately.

In May 1889, Vincent voluntarily entered the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole psychiatric hospital in Saint-Rémy. While there, van Gogh continued to paint, producing some of his most famous and beloved works, including Starry Night. It was also at this time that he started to gain recognition. In the first half of 1890, his work was included in several exhibitions and received praise from artists and critics alike.

In May 1890, van Gogh moved to the village of Auvers-sur-Oise, near Paris, where he was under the care of Dr. Paul Gachet. Despite his ongoing mental health challenges, van Gogh’s final months were marked by an astonishing burst of creativity. He created new work almost daily, producing masterpieces like Wheatfield with Crows, Portrait of Dr. Gachet, and Church at Auvers.

Death and Legacy

Sadly, van Gogh’s burst of positivity would not last. On July 27th 1890, he shot himself in the chest and died of infection from his gunshot wound in the early hours of July 29th, 1890. 

Tragically, his brother Theo, who was a support through much of his life, died shortly after. Theo’s wife, Jo, ensured that van Gogh's remarkable body of work received the recognition it deserved. Through numerous exhibitions, van Gogh’s paintings began to attract attention and fetch substantial sums. In 1973, the Van Gogh Museum opened in Amsterdam, and has since become a major cultural landmark, drawing over two million visitors each year.

Vincent van Gogh’s legacy is profound. Although he made next to no money in his lifetime, his paintings are now among the most recognisable and treasured in the world.

You don't have to know a lot about Vincent Van Gogh to know that his life was tragic. Yet you walk into a museum and look at his art, and it just overwhelms you with joy.

Steven Naifeh, Pulitzer Prize-winning co-author of Van Gogh: The Life